Accelerated Pathways Program

Director: Associate Professor Tracey Thurnes

Elon offers undergraduate students a distinctive Accelerated Pathway to the university’s highly selective Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (PA) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (PT) programs within the School of Health Sciences (SHS). Selected Accelerated Pathway students will complete their undergraduate courses in three and a half years with the opportunity for admission and enrollment into the PA and PT programs in the final semester of their fourth year (January). Students will participate in programming throughout their undergraduate career that is aimed at developing essential skills and fluencies, drawn from a liberal arts education, necessary for success as a healthcare provider.

Accelerated Pathways Program Requirements

Complete programming throughout undergraduate career designed to ensure academic and professional readiness for enrollment into the Elon University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (PA) or Doctor of Physical Therapy (PT) programs.

Illustrate development of critical thinking skills, understanding of intercultural competencies and awareness of healthcare disparities through required experiences, activities, reflections and group advising.

Maintain a 3.3 cumulative undergraduate GPA and a 3.0 science GPA.

Meet all requirements for matriculation into the Elon University PA and PT programs.

Following completion of all requirements, participate in a PA or PT interview.

Prerequisite Requirements

Students may concentrate their studies in any major but must meet all requirements for matriculation into the Elon University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (PA) or Doctor of Physical Therapy (PT) programs including completion of the following prerequisites:

• Physician Assistant Studies Requirements

• Human Anatomy & Human Physiology: one full academic year (a minimum of seven semester hours). This requirement may be met by taking either: one semester of Anatomy (with lab) and one semester of Physiology (lab preferred but not required), or two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology combined.
• General Chemistry with Lab (4 semester hours)
• Additional Chemistry with Lab (4 semester hours)
• Microbiology (3 semester hours)
• 1 Upper Level Science (3 semester hours): Examples include, but are not limited, to biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, exercise physiology, genetics, immunology and organic chemistry.
• 1 Psychology Course (3 semester hours): It is preferred that this course is from the psychology department, but an upper level course from another department may be acceptable.
• Physical Therapy Requirements
• 6 Science Courses (3-credit hour course or higher with lab)
• The applicant must have 6 natural and/or life science courses selected from the following: Biology, Chemistry, Human Anatomy/Physiology, Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Pathology and/or Physics.
• Note: courses may be from the same discipline. For example, Biology I and Biology II would suffice as 2 of the 6 science courses.
• 1 Psychology Course (3-credit hour course or higher): It is preferred that this course is from the psychology department, but an upper level course from another department may be acceptable.

Students must take five out of six required science courses by the end of the third year and receive a “C” or better in each prerequisite course.